Bob Rule
Encyclopedia
Bobby Frank Rule (born June 29, 1944, in Riverside, California
) is a retired American
basketball
player at center
for the NBA
's Seattle SuperSonics
, Philadelphia 76ers
, Cleveland Cavaliers
, and briefly, the Milwaukee Bucks
.
Earlier in his college career, Rule played under the legendary Jerry Tarkanian, then head coach at Riverside Community College, as a member of two state championship teams. A second round pick in the 1967 NBA Draft
, Rule quickly became one of the stars of Seattle's expansion franchise. Named to the 1967-68 NBA All-Rookie Team
, Rule's 18.1 points per game average stood as the SuperSonics rookie record for forty seasons, until broken by Kevin Durant
. His rebounding average of 9.5 is the second best ever by a SuperSonics rookie, behind only Pete Cross
's 12.0 in the 1970-71 season. Also during his rookie season, Rule scored 47 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers
— still a SuperSonics rookie record.
Rule's game grew stronger during the next two seasons. In the 1968-69
season, he averaged 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. In the 1969-70
season, he averaged 24.6 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game, set a then-Supersonics record of 49 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and played in the 1970 NBA All-Star Game
. In the 1970-71
season, Rule began the season averaging 29.8 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game in his first four games before going down with a season-ending torn achilles tendon
. He never regained his All-Star form after his scoring fell to 15.1 PPG the following season and saw limited playing time thereafter. By 1974 his career was over.
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player at center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, and briefly, the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
.
Earlier in his college career, Rule played under the legendary Jerry Tarkanian, then head coach at Riverside Community College, as a member of two state championship teams. A second round pick in the 1967 NBA Draft
1967 NBA Draft
The 1967 NBA Draft was the 21st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 3, 1967 before the 1967–68 season. In this draft, 12 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
, Rule quickly became one of the stars of Seattle's expansion franchise. Named to the 1967-68 NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
, Rule's 18.1 points per game average stood as the SuperSonics rookie record for forty seasons, until broken by Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association . A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the...
. His rebounding average of 9.5 is the second best ever by a SuperSonics rookie, behind only Pete Cross
Pete Cross
Peter Michael Cross was an American basketball player.A 6'9" center from the University of San Francisco, Cross was selected by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1970 American Basketball Association draft and by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1970 NBA Draft.Cross played three...
's 12.0 in the 1970-71 season. Also during his rookie season, Rule scored 47 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
— still a SuperSonics rookie record.
Rule's game grew stronger during the next two seasons. In the 1968-69
1968-69 NBA season
The 1968–69 NBA season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
season, he averaged 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. In the 1969-70
1969-70 NBA season
The 1969–70 NBA Season was the 24th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the New York Knicks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
season, he averaged 24.6 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game, set a then-Supersonics record of 49 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and played in the 1970 NBA All-Star Game
1970 NBA All-Star Game
GAME 20: at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, January 20, 1970.MVP: Willis ReedCoaches: East: Red Holzman, West: Richie Guerin.Network: ABC-Eastern Conference: -Western Conference: -Score by periods: *Halftime— East, 71-59*Third Quarter— East, 106-85...
. In the 1970-71
1970-71 NBA season
The 1970–71 NBA season was the 25th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
season, Rule began the season averaging 29.8 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game in his first four games before going down with a season-ending torn achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
. He never regained his All-Star form after his scoring fell to 15.1 PPG the following season and saw limited playing time thereafter. By 1974 his career was over.